IDr Armstrong was dreaming…
It was very hot in the operating-room…
Surely they’d got the temperature too high? The sweat was rolling downhis face. His hands were clammy. Difficult to hold the scalpel firmly…How beautifully sharp it was…
Easy to do a murder with a knife like that. And of course he was doing amurder…
The woman’s body looked different. It had been a large unwieldy body.
This was a spare meagre body. And the face was hidden.
Who was it that he had to kill?
He couldn’t remember. But he must know! Should he ask Sister?
Sister was watching him. No, he couldn’t ask her. She was suspicious, hecould see that.
But who was it on the operating-table?
They shouldn’t have covered up the face like that…If he could only see the face…
Ah! that was better. A young probationer was pulling off the handker-chief.
Emily Brent, of course. It was Emily Brent that he had to kill. How mali-cious her eyes were! Her lips were moving. What was she saying?
‘In the midst of life we are in death…’
She was laughing now. No, nurse, don’t put the handkerchief back. I’vegot to see. I’ve got to give the anaesthetic. Where’s the ether? I must havebrought the ether with me. What have you done with the ether, Sister?
Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape? Yes, that will do quite as well.
Take the handkerchief away, nurse.
Of course! I knew it all the time! It’s Anthony Marston! His face is purpleand convulsed. But he’s not dead—he’s laughing. I tell you he’s laughing!
He’s shaking the operating-table.
Look out, man, look out. Nurse, steady it—steady it—With a start Dr Armstrong woke up. It was morning. Sunlight was pour-ing into the room.
And someone was leaning over him—shaking him. It was Rogers. Ro-gers, with a white face, saying: ‘Doctor—doctor!’
Dr Armstrong woke up completely.
He sat up in bed. He said sharply:
‘What is it?’
‘It’s the wife, doctor. I can’t get her to wake. My God! I can’t get her towake. And—and she don’t look right to me.’
Dr Armstrong was quick and efficient. He wrapped himself in his dress-ing-gown and followed Rogers.
He bent1 over the bed where the woman was lying peacefully on herside. He lifted the cold hand, raised the eyelid2. It was some few minutesbefore he straightened himself and turned from the bed.
Rogers whispered:
‘Is—she—is she—?’
He passed a tongue over dry lips.
Armstrong nodded.
‘Yes, she’s gone.’
His eyes rested thoughtfully on the man before him. Then they went tothe table by the bed, to the washstand, then back to the sleeping woman.
Rogers said:
‘Was it—was it—’er ’eart, doctor?’
Dr Armstrong was a minute or two before replying. Then he said:
‘What was her health like normally?’
Rogers said:
‘She was a bit rheumaticky.’
‘Any doctor been attending her recently?’
‘Doctor?’ Rogers stared. ‘Not been to a doctor for years—neither of us.’
‘You’d no reason to believe she suffered from heart trouble?’
‘No, doctor. I never knew of anything.’
Armstrong said:
‘Did she sleep well?’
Now Rogers’ eyes evaded3 his. The man’s hands came together andturned and twisted uneasily. He muttered:
‘She didn’t sleep extra well—no.’
The doctor said sharply:
‘Did she take things to make her sleep?’
Rogers stared at him, surprised.
‘Take things? To make her sleep? Not that I knew of. I’m sure she didn’t.’
Armstrong went over to the washstand.
There were a certain number of bottles on it. Hair lotion4, lavender wa-ter, cascara, glycerine of cucumber for the hands, a mouthwash, tooth-paste and some Elliman’s.
Rogers helped by pulling out the drawers of the dressing-table. Fromthere they moved on to the chest of drawers. But there was no sign ofsleeping draughts5 or tablets.
Rogers said:
‘She didn’t have nothing last night, sir, except what you gave her…’
II
When the gong sounded for breakfast at nine o’clock it found everyone upand awaiting the summons.
General Macarthur and the judge had been pacing the terrace outside,exchanging desultory6 comments on the political situation.
Vera Claythorne and Philip Lombard had been up to the summit of theisland behind the house. There they had discovered William Henry Blore,standing7 staring at the mainland.
He said:
‘No sign of that motor-boat yet. I’ve been watching for it.’
Vera said smiling:
‘Devon’s a sleepy county. Things are usually late.’
Philip Lombard was looking the other way, out to sea.
He said abruptly8:
‘What d’you think of the weather?’
Glancing up at the sky, Blore remarked:
‘Looks all right to me.’
Lombard pursed up his mouth into a whistle.
He said:
‘It will come on to blow before the day’s out.’
Blore said:
‘Squally—eh?’
From below them came the boom of a gong.
Philip Lombard said:
‘Breakfast? Well, I could do with some.’
As they went down the steep slope Blore said to Lombard in a ruminat-ing voice:
‘You know, it beats me—why that young fellow wanted to do himself in!
I’ve been worrying about it all night.’
Vera was a little ahead. Lombard hung back slightly. He said:
‘Got any alternative theory?’
‘I’d want some proof. Motive9, to begin with. Well-off I should say hewas.’
Emily Brent came out of the drawing-room window to meet them.
She said sharply:
‘Is the boat coming?’
‘Not yet,’ said Vera.
They went into breakfast. There was a vast dish of eggs and bacon onthe sideboard and tea and coffee.
Rogers held the door open for them to pass in, then shut it from the out-side.
Emily Brent said:
‘That man looks ill this morning.’
Dr Armstrong, who was standing by the window, cleared his throat. Hesaid:
‘You must excuse any—er—shortcomings this morning. Rogers has hadto do the best he can for breakfast single-handed. Mrs Rogers has—er—notbeen able to carry on this morning.’
Emily Brent said sharply:
‘What’s the matter with the woman?’
Dr Armstrong said easily:
‘Let us start our breakfast. The eggs will be cold. Afterwards, there areseveral matters I want to discuss with you all.’
They took the hint. Plates were filled, coffee and tea was poured. Themeal began.
Discussion of the island was, by mutual10 consent, tabooed. They spoke11 in-stead in a desultory fashion of current events. The news from abroad,events in the world of sport, the latest reappearance of the Loch Nessmonster.
Then, when plates were cleared, Dr Armstrong moved back his chair alittle, cleared his throat importantly and spoke.
He said:
‘I thought it better to wait until you had had your breakfast beforetelling you of a sad piece of news. Mrs Rogers died in her sleep.’
There were startled and shocked ejaculations.
Vera exclaimed:
‘How awful! Two deaths on this island since we arrived!’
Mr Justice Wargrave, his eyes narrowed, said in his small precise clearvoice:
‘H’m—very remarkable—what was the cause of death?’
Armstrong shrugged12 his shoulders.
‘Impossible to say offhand13.’
‘There must be an autopsy14?’
‘I certainly couldn’t give a certificate. I have no knowledge whatsoeverof the woman’s state of health.’
Vera said:
‘She was a very nervous- looking creature. And she had a shock lastnight. It might have been heart failure, I suppose?’
Dr Armstrong said dryly:
‘Her heart certainly failed to beat—but what caused it to fail is the ques-tion.’
One word fell from Emily Brent. It fell hard and clear into the listeninggroup.
‘Conscience!’ she said.
Armstrong turned to her.
‘What exactly do you mean by that, Miss Brent?’
Emily Brent, her lips tight and hard, said:
‘You all heard. She was accused, together with her husband, of havingdeliberately murdered her former employer—an old lady.’
‘And you think?’
Emily Brent said:
‘I think that that accusation16 was true. You all saw her last night. Shebroke down completely and fainted. The shock of having her wickednessbrought home to her was too much for her. She literally17 died of fear.’
Dr Armstrong shook his head doubtfully.
‘It is a possible theory,’ he said. ‘One cannot adopt it without more exactknowledge of her state of health. If there was cardiac weakness—’
Emily Brent said quietly:
‘Call it if you prefer, an Act of God.’
Everyone looked shocked. Mr Blore said uneasily:
‘That’s carrying things a bit far, Miss Brent.’
She looked at them with shining eyes. Her chin went up. She said:
‘You regard it as impossible that a sinner should be struck down by thewrath of God! I do not!’
The judge stroked his chin. He murmured in a slightly ironic18 voice:
‘My dear lady, in my experience of ill-doing, Providence19 leaves the workof conviction and chastisement20 to us mortals—and the process is oftenfraught with difficulties. There are no short cuts.’
Emily Brent shrugged her shoulders.
Blore said sharply:
‘What did she have to eat and drink last night after she went up to bed?’
Armstrong said:
‘Nothing.’
‘She didn’t take anything? A cup of tea? A drink of water? I’ll bet you shehad a cup of tea. That sort always does.’
‘Rogers assures me she had nothing whatsoever15.’
‘Ah,’ said Blore. ‘But he might say so!’
His tone was so significant that the doctor looked at him sharply.
Philip Lombard said:
‘So that’s your idea?’
Blore said aggressively:
‘Well, why not? We all heard that accusation last night. May be sheermoonshine—just plain lunacy! On the other hand, it may not. Allow forthe moment that it’s true. Rogers and his Missus polished off that old lady.
Well, where does that get you? They’ve been feeling quite safe and happyabout it—’
Vera interrupted. In a low voice she said:
‘No, I don’t think Mrs Rogers ever felt safe.’
Blore looked slightly annoyed at the interruption.
‘Just like a woman,’ his glance said.
He resumed:
‘That’s as may be. Anyway there’s no active danger to them as far asthey know. Then, last night, some unknown lunatic spills the beans. Whathappens? The woman cracks—she goes to pieces. Notice how her husbandhung over her as she was coming round. Not all husbandly solicitude21! Noton your life! He was like a cat on hot bricks. Scared out of his life as towhat she might say.
‘And there’s the position for you! They’ve done a murder and got awaywith it. But if the whole thing’s going to be raked up, what’s going to hap-pen? Ten to one, the woman will give the show away. She hasn’t got thenerve to stand up and brazen22 it out. She’s a living danger to her husband,that’s what she is. He’s all right. He’ll lie with a straight face till kingdomcomes—but he can’t be sure of her! And if she goes to pieces, his neck’s indanger! So he slips something into a cup of tea and makes sure that hermouth is shut permanently23.’
Armstrong said slowly:
‘There was no empty cup by her bedside—there was nothing there at all.
I looked.’
Blore snorted.
‘Of course there wouldn’t be! First thing he’d do when she’d drunk itwould be to take that cup and saucer away and wash it up carefully.’
There was a pause. Then General Macarthur said doubtfully:
‘It may be so. But I should hardly think it possible that a man would dothat—to his wife.’
Blore gave a short laugh.
He said:
‘When a man’s neck’s in danger, he doesn’t stop to think too much aboutsentiment.’
There was a pause. Before any one could speak, the door opened andRogers came in.
He said, looking from one to the other:
‘Is there anything more I can get you?’
Mr Justice Wargrave stirred a little in his chair. He asked:
‘What time does the motor-boat usually come over?’
‘Between seven and eight, sir. Sometimes it’s a bit after eight. Don’tknow what Fred Narracott can be doing this morning. If he’s ill he’d sendhis brother.’
Philip Lombard said:
‘What’s the time now?’
‘Ten minutes to ten, sir.’
Lombard’s eyebrows24 rose. He nodded slowly to himself.
Rogers waited a minute or two.
General Macarthur spoke suddenly and explosively:
‘Sorry to hear about your wife, Rogers. Doctor’s just been telling us.’
Rogers inclined his head.
‘Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.’
He took up the empty bacon dish and went out.
Again there was a silence.
III
On the terrace outside Philip Lombard said:
‘About this motor-boat—’
Blore looked at him.
Blore nodded his head.
He said:
‘I know what you’re thinking, Mr Lombard. I’ve asked myself the samequestion. Motor-boat ought to have been here nigh on two hours ago. Ithasn’t come? Why?’
‘Found the answer?’ asked Lombard.
‘It’s not an accident—that’s what I say. It’s part and parcel of the wholebusiness. It’s all bound up together.’
Philip Lombard said:
‘It won’t come, you think?’
A voice spoke behind him—a testy25 impatient voice.
‘The motor-boat’s not coming,’ it said.
Blore turned his square shoulder slightly and viewed the last speakerthoughtfully.
‘You think not too, General?’
General Macarthur said sharply:
‘Of course it won’t come. We’re counting on the motor-boat to take usoff the island. That’s the meaning of the whole business. We’re not going toleave the island…None of us will ever leave…It’s the end, you see—the endof everything…’
He hesitated, then he said in a low strange voice:
‘That’s peace—real peace. To come to the end—not to have to go on…Yes, peace…’
He turned abruptly and walked away. Along the terrace, then down theslope towards the sea—obliquely—to the end of the island where looserocks went out into the water.
He walked a little unsteadily, like a man who was only half awake.
Blore said:
‘There goes another one who’s barmy! Looks as though it’ll end with thewhole lot going that way.’
Philip Lombard said:
‘I don’t fancy you will, Blore.’
The ex-Inspector laughed.
‘It would take a lot to send me off my head.’ He added dryly: ‘And I don’tthink you’ll be going that way either, Mr Lombard.’
Philip Lombard said:
‘I feel quite sane26 at the minute, thank you.’
IV
Dr Armstrong came out on to the terrace. He stood there hesitating. To hisleft were Blore and Lombard. To his right was Wargrave, slowly pacing upand down, his head bent down.
Armstrong, after a moment of indecision, turned towards the latter.
But at that moment Rogers came quickly out of the house.
‘Could I have a word with you, sir, please?’
Armstrong turned.
He was startled at what he saw.
Rogers’ face was working. Its colour was greyish green. His handsshook.
It was such a contrast to his restraint of a few minutes ago that Arm-strong was quite taken aback.
‘Please sir, if I could have a word with you. Inside, sir.’
The doctor turned back and re-entered the house with the frenzied27 but-ler. He said:
‘What’s the matter, man, pull yourself together.’
‘In here, sir, come in here.’
He opened the dining-room door. The doctor passed in. Rogers followedhim and shut the door behind him.
‘Well,’ said Armstrong, ‘what is it?’
The muscles of Rogers’ throat were working. He was swallowing. Hejerked out:
‘There’s things going on, sir, that I don’t understand.’
Armstrong said sharply:
‘Things? What things?’
‘You’ll think I’m crazy, sir. You’ll say it isn’t anything. But it’s got to beexplained, sir. It’s got to be explained. Because it doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Well, man, tell me what it is. Don’t go on talking in riddles28.’
Rogers swallowed again.
He said:
‘It’s those little figures, sir. In the middle of the table. The little china fig-ures. Ten of them, there were. I’ll swear to that, ten of them.’
Armstrong said:
‘Yes, ten. We counted them last night at dinner.’
Rogers came nearer.
‘That’s just it, sir. Last night, when I was clearing up, there wasn’t butnine, sir. I noticed it and thought it queer. But that’s all I thought. Andnow, sir, this morning. I didn’t notice when I laid the breakfast. I was up-set and all that.
‘But now, sir, when I came to clear away. See for yourself if you don’tbelieve me.
‘There’s only eight, sir! Only eight! It doesn’t make sense, does it? Onlyeight…’
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
eyelid
|
|
| n.眼睑，眼皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
evaded
|
|
| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
lotion
|
|
| n.洗剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
draughts
|
|
| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
desultory
|
|
| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
offhand
|
|
| adj.临时，无准备的；随便，马虎的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
autopsy
|
|
| n.尸体解剖；尸检 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
whatsoever
|
|
| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
accusation
|
|
| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
literally
|
|
| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
ironic
|
|
| adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
chastisement
|
|
| n.惩罚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
brazen
|
|
| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
permanently
|
|
| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
testy
|
|
| adj.易怒的；暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
sane
|
|
| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
frenzied
|
|
| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
riddles
|
|
| n.谜（语）( riddle的名词复数 )；猜不透的难题，难解之谜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |